Spectacle supported nasal clamp



Dec. 20, 1960 G. AUFIRICHT 2,965,099

SPECTACLE SUPPORTED NASAL CLAMP Filed April 15, 1954 axi lwl United States Patent SPECTACLE SUPPORTED NASAL CLAMP:

Gustave Aufricht, 1085 Park Ave., New York, NY.

Filed Apr. 15, 1954, Ser. No, 423,443

9 Claims, (Cl, 128-76) The present invention relates to a nasal clamp and in its more complete form to a combination spectacle and nasal clamp.

Nasal clamps as heretofore used commonly embody a screw mechanism of a character which is rigid and functions similarly to a vise. Such rigidity of pressure, especially when exerted over a long period, is sometimes quite damaging to the person.

'The device of the present invention comprises an association of parts which provides features of precise adjustment and control such as to make it of universal application in the shaping, treatment and control of nasal parts including the treatment of injuries and deformities. It is particularly valuable for application after planned nasal plastic operations forsupporting and training the nasal parts in the desired manner. It is also very useful in the case of fractured noses and for shaping or molding the nose in the growing stages. The combination incorporates means for adjusting the application of pressures to different areas and to any desired degree. It enables the surgeon to make the major adjustments, but permits the wearer readily to make minor adjustments as comfort or changingconditions may render desirable within limits set by the surgeon. It embodies spring means of a character wereby there may be applied a gentle elastic pressure of predetermined appropriate degree and location or locations. The controlled pressure is particularly advantageous in avoiding necrosis or coping better with cases where swelling tends to develop.

As embodied in and combined with spectacle means the device as a whole avoids the disfiguring or unattractive appearances of many prior devices employed or proposed for the purposes. The spectacle frame adds also to the comfort and the adaptability to different conditions. The frame may, for example, embody prescription lenses or dark lenses to conceal discolored eye areas. Due to the gentleness of the pressure and the inconspicuous appearance the device may be worn continuously for long periods without substantial discomfort or embarrassment.

Various objects and advantages will be made apparent from a consideration of the features of construction and combination of elements which will be exemplified in the specific example illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described.

In connection with the detailed description, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined spectacle and nasal clamp comprising one specific embodiment of the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a small detailed cross sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the main bridge section prior to assembly;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken'on the line 6-6 ICQ of Figure 1, showing-particularly the application of atended to be of a plastic material and relatively lightweight. The lenses 13 may vary as to character depending on the circumstances and, for example, may be, if desired, normal prescription lenses or dark lenses or plain colorless glass.

The intermediate bridge section embodies spring means and various adjustable features which will now be described. It includes an arch-shaped main upper portion 15 with depending leg portions, the arch being made of suitable elastic material such as a spring metal. The legportions have secured to the lower-ends thereof, as by welding, blocks 16 and 16:: which may have slots adapted to receive the lower ends or the legs 17 of the bridge portion 15. Removably secured in the blocks 16 and 16a are lower rod extensions 18 and 18a the upper ends of the rods being screw-threaded into openings in the respective blocks 16 and 16a. The extensions 18 and 18a are adapted to support nose engaging pads as will be described more fullybelow.

The lens encircling portions of the spectacle are secured to the bridge portion in a suitable manner and in the particular arrangement shown the bridge section is provided with laterally extending lugs 19 and 19a received in slots in the respective spectacle rim portions 20 and 20a andsecured therein by suitable means such as screws or rivetsindicated at 21.

As above noted the bridge portion 15 is made of spring material tending to urge the arch into closed position. Preferably the spring means also includes an auxiliary tension spring 24 secured in the opposite legs of the bridge section by screw bolts 25 provided with nuts 26. The tension of the auxiliary spring 24 may be varied by adjustment of the nuts 26, and springs ofdifierent strength may readily be substituted.

A feature of particular importance is the means for limiting the inward or closing movement of the bridge portion under the influence of the spring means. Such limiting means includes a screw member 30, the opposite ends extending outwardly from a middle integral finger portion 31 being threaded in opposite directions or hand. The screw-threaded ends extend through openings 32 in the forwardly projecting bracket portions 33 of the leg parts of the bridge section, the openings 32 being larger than the screw 30 to permit free relative movement. Preferably the outer ends of the screw 30 are provided with means to prevent the end from slipping out of the holes 32 once the parts have been assembled, and for this purpose the screw may be provided with outer nuts or peened over as indicated at 34 to provide an enlarged portion of greater diameter than the holes 32. Mounted on the screw 30 are nuts 35 and 35a which, like the corresponding screw portions, have threads of opposite hand. The nuts 35 and 35a are prevented from rotating by the provision of a flattened peripheral edge portion 36 adapted to engage the inner surface of lugs 37 and 37a extending inwardly toward each other from the respective flange portions 33 of the bridge section.

It will be understood that the spring means embodied in the bridge section normally tends to close the bridge to the extent determined by the setting ofthe nuts 35, 35a

which in turn may be adjusted as to their positions on the screw 30 by rotation of the finger portion 31 which may be suitably serrated if desired for more convenient operation. The wearer, therefore, may readily adjust the extent to which the clamping means may close by adjustment of the screw as described. It is desirable, however, in some cases at least that a positive stop he provided to limit the extent of the free manual adjustment. For example, a surgeon may desire to make certain that the patient does not adjust the nasal clamp beyond a certain point in order to avoid injury or undesirable stresses or pressures. Such a positive limiting stop may be provided by way of a nut 38 which may be rotated to adjust its position on the screw 30 to any point desired and then firmly secured at such position by a suitable set screw means such as that shown at 39. The drawings show a nut 38 on each outwardly extending portion of the screw 30, but it will be understood that one is sufiicient if desired. The limit of adjustment of the nuts 35 and 35a is, of course, determined by engagement of one of the nuts with the fixed stop 38. In order to insure secure fastening of the nut 38 the screw 30 may be provided with one or more longitudinally extending flatted areas such as that indicated at 40 against which the screw 39 may be firmly set.

As heretofore noted, the bridge section is provided with depending supports such as those shown at 18 or 18a adapted to have mounted thereon nose engaging pads of a character and positioned in accordance with the effect desired to be accomplished. In Figure 1 three such pads are shown at 50, 51 and 52. The pads may differ individually, depending upon the area and character of the pressure to be exerted on the nose of the patient. Normally such pads comprise a backing portion 53 such as indicated in Figure 4 with a surface 54 which may be of a resilient material such as felt or rubber. The pads are vertically and rotatably adjustable on the supporting rods 18 or 18a and for this purpose are provided with a sleeve portion 55 in which is mounted a set screw 56 for engagement against the rod to secure the pad in the selected position. It is important that the plane of engagement of the pads against the nose be adjustable and for that purpose the connection between the pad and its supporting sleeve 55 may be sufficiently flexible to enable bending in the manner that an Optician normally adjusts the bridge parts, or as shown in Figure 4 there may be incorporated a universal joint comprising a ball part 57 received in a socket portion 58 spherically shaped internally, the outer edge being compressed around the ball 57 after assembly. The universal joint is adapted to be secured in adjusted position by means of a set screw 59. If desired the individual pads may embody an auxiliary spring cushioning means such as that shown in Figure 4, which comprises a stem 60 extending from the pad backing 53 received in a socket 61 in the ball part 57 and normally urged outwardly by a coil compression spring 62. The outer movement of the stem 69 is limited by means of a set screw 63 provided with an extension 64 of reduced diameter extending into a slot 65 of the stem 60.1 This connection also prevents the stem 60 and its pad 53 from rotating in its support. It will be understood that in some cases only very light pressures are desired and this may be adequately supplied by the weight of the frame itself and that materials of difierent weights may be selected for the purpose, and also auxiliary weights may be applied at desired points, any unbalanced condition being taken care of by the temple parts and the arrangement in general adapted to hold the frame in the desired position.

The adjustability and interchangeable features described and the ability to provide a selected continuous pressure at any selected region enable the nasal clamping means to be arranged and adjusted to meet practically any condition that may be encountered. As an example of its use and adjustability, if a balanced directly opposed pressure condition is needed such as that indicated by the opposed pads 50 and 51, a shorter pad supporting rod similar to rod 18 may be substituted for the rod 181:. On the other hand, Figure 1 shows a different arrangement in which pressure is applied at three areas.

In some cases it may be desired to apply pressure at one side of the nose and not at all, or only to a minor degree, at the opposite side. The device shown is readily adaptable to such a condition by the addition or incorporation of an auxiliary attachment adapted to bear against the side of the head of the wearer and supply the required counteracting pressure. Such an attachment may comprise a part adapted to be clamped on the temple piece, or, for more rigid support, to the edge of the lens frame such as to the temple supporting lug 69 (Fig. l). A more simple means and one which may serve the purpose sutiiciently in some cases is shown in Figure 1 comprising a clip 70 applied to the temple piece 12 and shown in cross section in Figure 6. The clip includes spring portions 71 adapted to engage over the edges of the temple part, the clip being provided with a suitable pad 72 adapted to engage against the side of the head of the wearer. The clip 70 may be readily removed and applied to either temple part and adjusted to any position along the corresponding temple part. If desired set screw means may be provided for positively securing the clip in its selected position. As previously noted the pad may be much larger and if desired made to fasten rigidly to the spectacle frame lug 69. The attachment may, for example, be of a size and shaped similarly to the side blinder of a pair of goggles. As a typical example of the use of the attachment, the nose pads 50 and 51 could be omitted or arranged to exert only a light pressure, but the nose pad 52 adjusted to exert considerable pressure on the left side of the nose of the wearer. This latter pressure could be counteracted and the device balanced by a resisting pressure derived from the engagement of the side attachment against the temple area of the wearer.

The spectacle frame, including the temple parts 12 and 12a, may be varied considerably as to construction and in some cases the temple parts omitted altogether if desired. In the more complete embodiment shown further supporting or holding means for the combined spectacle and nasal clamp means may electively be employed comprising an elastic band 75 adapted to extend around the head of the wearer, the ends of the band being provided with metal terminal clips including enlarged ball portions 76 adapted to be inserted in key-hole type openings 77 of the temple parts 12 and 12a.

The nasal clamp means may be initially arranged and adjusted by the initial supervisor as, for example, a surgeon, by employing a convenient measuring standard such as that shown in Figure 7. The standard comprises a truncated pyramidal block 80 which tapers both vertically and from front to rear in simulation of the general shape of a normal human nose and may be provided with suitable graduation marks such as those indicated at 81 on the front face or they may be located on any other of the visible faces as desired. In practice, the surgeon measures the area across the nose of the patient to which it is desired to apply pressure as by means of suitable calipers and then applies the calipers to the measuring standard 80, and finds the position thereon corresponding to that dimension. He then applies the nasal clamp with the selected arrangement of pads to the standard at the predetermined point, as illustrated in broken lines in Figure 7, and adjusts the clamping means to fit the corresponding part of the standard. The surgeon also sets the positive stop means 38 to the desired position and by rotation of the finger piece 31 adjusts the opening of the clamp to the desired initial position. He may also adjust the tension of the auxiliary spring means 24. Thereafter the patient may increase or decrease the innermost positions of the clamp by rotation of the knob 31, but is prevented from adjusting it beyond the position determined by the stops 38.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the detailed elements or arrangements of the combined article above described and shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims, and it is intended that all matter contained therein shall be interpreted as illustrative of the principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. A nasal clamp having in combination a spectacle type frame with temple parts and a bridge means including a pair of spaced leg parts depending from said bridge means, a nose pad for at least one of said leg parts and adjustable mounting means for securing the pad in vertically adjusted position on the corresponding leg part, means for individually adjusting the position of the pad on its said mounting means, and means for elastically urging the pad inwardly for engagement with and exerting a predetermined corrective pressure at a selected angle on certain selected nasal parts of the wearer.

2. A nasal clamp having in combination a spectacle type frame with temple parts and a bridge means including a pair of spaced leg parts depending from said bridge means, a nose pad on each of said leg parts and adjustable mounting means for securing the pad in vertically adjusted position on the corresponding leg part, means for individually adjusting the position of the pads on the respective said mounting means, and means for elastically urging the pad inwardly for engagement with and exterting a predetermined corrective pressure at a selected angle on certain selected nasal parts of the wearer.

3. A nasal clamp having in combination a spectacle type frame with temple parts and a bridge means including a pair of spaced leg parts depending from said bridge means, a nose pad on each of said leg parts and adjustable mounting means for securing the pad in vertically adjusted position on the corresponding leg part, means for individually adjusting the position of the pads on the respective said mounting means, spring means for elastically urging the pads inwardly toward the nose to move selected nasal parts in a desired corrective position and angle, and adjustable stop means for limiting the movement of said pads with respect to the said nasal parts.

4. A nasal clamp having in combination a spectacle type frame with a nose bridging section and depending leg portions, nose pads mounted on said leg portions, said bridging section embodying spring means for urging said leg portions inwardly toward the nose, and stop means for limiting the inward movement of said leg portions comprising a hand rotatable screw means mounted on said bridging section having an adjustable nut at each end positioned to be engaged by the respective said leg portion, the screw thread connections with the two nuts being of opposite hand whereby rotation of the screw in one direction readily adjusts both said nuts inwardly and rotation in the opposite direction adjusts both nuts outwardly.

5. A combination nasal clamp and spectacle frame having temple parts and a bridge means with spaced legs, a nose pad support depending from and removably secured to each of said legs, a nose pad mounted on each of said supports the mounting including means for individually adjusting the vertical position of the pad on its respective support and securing it in adjusted position and an adjustable connection between the pad and its mounting on the support, said bridge means embodying spring means for urging said supports and thereby the opposed pads toward the nose to exert predetermined corrective pressure on the corresponding selected areas of the nose of the wearer, and adjustable stop means mounted on said bridge means for limiting the inward movement of said supports.

6. A nasal clamp having in combination a nose bridging section, spaced nose pad supports depending therefrom, said nose bridging means embodying spring means for urging said supports toward each other, and mounting means for securing a nose pad on each of said supports, said mounting means being vertically adjustable on and adapted to be secured in adjusted position on its support and including a universal joint connection to the respective pad enabling corresponding selective positioning of the pad on its mounting.

7. A nasal clamp having in combination a nose bridging section and depending leg portions, nose pads mount ed on said leg portions, said bridging section embodying spring means for urging said leg portions inwardly toward each other, and stop means for limiting the inward movement of said leg portions comprising a hand rotatable screw means mounted on said bridging section having an adjustable nut at each end positioned to be engaged by the respective said leg portion to limit the inward movement thereof, the screw thread connections with the two nuts being of opposite hand whereby rotation of the screw in one direction readily adjusts both said nuts inwardly and rotation in the opposite direction adjusts both nuts outwardly, and a stop nut provided with means for securing it in selected fixed position on said screw for limiting the inward adjustment of one of said adjustable nuts and thereby limiting the extent of normal manual adjustment.

8. A combination spectacle and nasal clamp comprising a spectacle frame having bridge means and temple parts, one or more nose engaging pads adjustably mounted on parts supported on said bridge means, said bridge means embodying spring means for causing said pad or pads to exert pressure on the corresponding areas of the nose of the wearer, and a pad removably mounted on one of said temple parts adjacent said frame and adapted to engage against the temple of the wearer to counteract the force of a nose pad engaging the side of the nose of the wearer opposite to said temple pad.

9. A combination nasal clamp and spectacle comprising a spectacle frame having portions enclosing eyeglasses intervening bridge means with spaced legs and outer temple parts attached to the respective said portions, a nose pad support depending from and removably secured to each of said legs, a nose pad mounted on each of said supports the mounting including means for individually adjusting the vertical position of the pad on its respective support and securing it in adjusted position and a universal joint connection between the pad and its mounting on the support, said bridge means embodying spring means for urging said supports and thereby the opposed pads toward each other to exert pressure on the corresponding areas of the nose of the wearer, and adjustable stop means mounted on said bridge means for limiting the inward movement of said supports.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 382,848 Wells May 15, 1888 412,442 Wells Oct. 8, 1889 508,457 Wicklitfe Nov. 14, 1893 527,745 Gilbert Oct. 16, 1894 837,081 Layton Nov. 27, 1906 1,381,603 Updegrave et al. June 14, 1921 2,023,523 Grimball Dec. 10, 1935 2,112,163 Kimmel Mar. 22, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 343,621 Germany Jan. 27, 1920 

